“He’s still a City player so we’re not talking about anything definite yet, but if he were to join Inter, then it would be a big thing for Italian football,” Mancini said.

“We need to get top players back. We’re going to give it a go, there’s no doubt about that.”

Before Inter can consider a bid for the 31-year-old, they have to slash the deadwood in their squad, and the first to go will be Nemanja Vidic and Rodrigo Palacio who are currently earning €3.2 million per annum — the highest wages of any Inter player at present.

Hernanes is third on €3m with Fredy Guarin on €2.8m and Xherdan Shaqiri on €2.5m, although that could rise from next season when his loan move from Bayern Munich is made permanent.

To sign Toure, the Nerazzurri would have to come up with probably a €30m transfer fee, plus wages of around €4.5m per year.

In order to fund that deal, Inter would have to sell first with Vidic, Hernanes and Samir Handanovic all names that are mentioned as leaving the San Siro this season, along with possible Kovacic.

To help fund the rebuilding that Mancini wants, club president Erick Thohir was reportedly preparing to inject a further €60m in the club, although La Gazzetta dello Sport speculated on Wednesday that he may no longer be in charge next season with former president Massimo Moratti reportedly so concerned with the club’s current plight that he is considering buying them back.

Moratti issued an immediate denial, giving his full backing to Thohir.

“I’ve read the papers, but there’s no truth in it,” Moratti said, reports La Repubblica. “Erick Thohir has my full backing and I hope he does well. He’s got all that it takes for this to happen and he’s putting in a lot of work.

“Of course I miss Inter as a fan, and maybe I would like to have more satisfaction from them, but I’m sure Thohir feels the same way. There’s no chance I’ll be taking back control of the club.”